Transition Town Totnes Bulletin – December 2013

Welcome to the December edition of the TTT Bulletin! Missed the email? Sign up to our bulletin on the front page of this website.

If you're feeling festive, we encourage you to be inspired to make some of your Christmas gifts this year, or to buy from our wonderful local shops and suppliers. For inspiration why not check out Make Something Month, launched on November 23rd with the fantastic Festival of Making in Totnes Civic Hall. Make Something Month urges us to fall in love with stuff - in a good way - by treasuring what we have, making do and mending, and to get creative and make something.

An colourful day of making and talks was held in the Civic Hall to celebrate the start of Make Something Month. Thought-provoking discussions with Mark Boyle (The Moneyless Manifesto) and Fergus the Forager, chaired by Ruth Potts (The New Materialism), combined with inspirational local craftspeople. A foraging walk with Dave Hamilton (Self-Sufficientish) introduced fledgling foragers and enthusiastic horticulturists to wild food around Totnes, including some well-bletted medlars in the church yard! Back in the warmth of the bustling hall, you could learn to weave & spin, knit, upcycle, make decorations, whittle a knife shaft, and find out about courses for making more complex things such as your own bow. The day rounded off with the launch of the New Lion Brewery....

The Lion is back!

The Lion Brewery in Totnes closed in 1921, and two weeks ago it returned. New Lion Brewery launched at the Bay Horse Inn, marking the beginning of a new social enterprise in the town. On the day, 6 different beers were available, and people were invited to taste all six, to give feedback, and to become members, thereby playing an active role in the ongoing development of the brewery. It was also their first chance to meet Mat Henney, NLB's head brewer.

The brewery's first beer, 'Mane Event', will be available at the Bay Horse from January. You will also see New Lion Brewery's stall at the last two Christmas Markets (December 10th and 17th), where you will be able to taste samples and sign up as a member. Benefits of membership are:

A 10% discount on our beers at the Bay Horse Inn

Branded pint glass, coaster and T shirt or tote bag

Regular tutored tasting sessions of our new beers

Illustrated history of the Lion Brewery

Special members’ promo and social events

A regular newsletter

You can also pop into the Bay Horse at any time and pick up a membership form. The brewery is based on Station Road. It made its first public appearance at the 2012 Local Entrepreneurs' Forum, and looks on course to make good its promise to be able to serve its beer at the 2014 Forum. You can follow our progress on Twitter @NewLionBrewery.

Some Transitioners have made inspirational low carbon journeys to visit Totnes this year - so much so that Big Green Canoe has awarded the 'most valiant pilgrims'. Damien & Isabelle sailed in their boat the Neutron Rapidefrom France to Ireland to visit Transition Town Kinsale, and then to Totnes to join one of TTT's Transition Walks. Other Transition pilgrims included some fine spirited Belgian young men who cycled across Belgium and Britain for a Transition study programme.

School Farm, the UK's only no-dig, certified-organic community farm, is raising funds to expand their growing area and to increase membership from 20 to 40 households. The farm also wants to increase educational opportunities, and outreach into the local community. They've already raised £1000 towards their target - please support them if you can!

The Totnes Food Link project has published the Crop Gap report, following research into crops that could be grown in the area for human consumption. Food Link have been interviewing local farmers to find out what has been grown in the past that could potentially be grown again. In the past 15 years the majority have discontinued both crop production for direct human consumption and dairy production, shifting instead to livestock and fodder crop production. Co-operative working was highlighted as an effective method to address labour issues and reduce individual farm costs.

There is willingness to grow crops for human consumption - 75% of participants in the research said they would be willing to trial crops for local human consumption markets, as long as they receive a guaranteed price or market for their goods.

Following a tender exercise involving several local PV installers, Transition Town Totnes has partnered with Totnes Solar on its new Solar PV offer. Under the project TTT refers interested households or businesses to Totnes Solar, an experienced installer with an excellent local reputation, for a free, no-obligation quote. Totnes Solar will arrange to visit to survey and discuss the householder’s requirements with them, before quoting at the discounted price agreed with TTT. Following any installations under the scheme the householder concerned will receive ‘cashback’ of 20 Totnes pounds to spend locally and TTT will receive a small referral fee to support its energy saving work. Read More →

Kirsten Dirksen invites us on her journey into the tiny homes of people searching for simplicity, self-sufficiency, minimalism and happiness by creating shelter in trailers, river boats, converted garages, tool sheds, caves and former pigeon coops! From San Francisco to France and Spain, Kirsten has explored what is possible and creative. "For those who find themselves dumbfounded, perplexed and curious regarding how individuals can make everyday-use of very tiny spaces." - The Blaze. £4/£3 concessions. Doors at 7.30pm, refreshments available including mince pies.

Many of us now compost our fruit & veg peelings and other food waste, but are unable to put cooked and uncooked, meat, fish and dairy into our compost bins. Bokashi is a technique for composting ALL food waster, in one bucket, without unpleasant smells and producing something which can be buried in the garden or used as a fantastic fertiliser for your vegetables or flowers. Alexander from Living Soil will show how to make bokashi.

During the winter there are weekly work/lunch sessions on the Steamer Quay - bring some lunch and you may be able to supplement it with some winter salad leaves. We look forward to seeing you there! For further information contact Wendy Stayte - wendystt997@gmail.com

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas with out mince pies, but nothing beats home made and these frangipane ones promise to be extra special. Mary is sharing her favourite recipe with us, so try your hand at making some delicious mince pies!

Show your support for TTT by popping along to our stall at Santa Sunday in the Civic Hall. There will be a variety of local and hand crafted gifts for sale, along with delicious mince pies, and the opportunity to find out about the Projects and Groups which make up TTT.

The 'Time to Breathe' weekly sessions – a space for relaxation, growth and self-nurturance – are supported by the Inner Transition group. This is an opportunity to experience a session as a one-off or taster. Hilary has worked in health and healing, both for Public Health and in private practice, for over 30 years. She has been inspired by a recent talk by Andrew Harvey, author of "The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism", and is offering a range of practices to use on one's own and/or at the group, including: